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Lessons You May Not Find in Books
Author Unknown
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1) Within a Circle trust is an absolute necessity.
If you attend a ritual be SURE you trust those involved. Many feel this, in
todays society to be archaic. It has always proved out when I have tried to
work with unknown people, those I was unsure of or who were in some way unsure
of me, failure, disaster or heated debate resulting in dissent has always been
the end point. Know a person before you are willing to enter sacred space with
them.
2) Never spellcast too soon.
Magic should not be a first resort. The use of non-magical means should be
applied when possible and convient. Overuse of magic, like anything else,
becomes a crutch that can unbalance your life.
3) Prophecy is a two-edged sword.
Remember this, wether you read Tarot, I-Ching, Runes or whatever other means of
divination or personal analysis. Be prepared to have the reading to go in
directions you do not expect and be prepared for them NOT to be in a way you
will like. Remember the Lesson of Cassandra (in Greek Mythology) that sometimes
you can change the future and sometimes you cannot, and only time will tell
which is which. If you cannot deal with the possibility of your personal wants
or expectations being wrong, then you should not be consulting a means of
divination. I have seen even long-time craft-folk who forget this lesson in the
heat of emotion.
4) There is not a magical answer behind everything.
I have known some folks who became so obsessed in their personal paranoia of
some form of 'magical attack' or 'magical influence' that such became their
excuse for everything that occured around them, even when very simple
non-magical answers existed to explain what had occured. The number of magical
practitioners at present is VERY small, and most have a range of influence that
doesn't extend far on their own. The gathering of hateful or vindictive
emotional energy to achieve a magical attack on another is not done easily or
quickly, and tends to harm the attacker more often then the target. Look with
logic on a situation.
5) Diversify.
Don't depend on or look into only a single philosophy or magical application -
a specialist is usually someone who is refusing to grow beyond boundries they
have set for themselves.
6) A single teacher is NOT enough.
You will spend a lifetime as a real student, even if others one day declare you
a teacher, leader or High Priestess. Gather from many to find what your
lifepath is. Do not let anyone tell you there is ONLY one true belief system,
one true Divinity, one way to approach a situation or one teacher to follow.
7) In the end you ARE Solitary.
All Magickal workers are eventually forced to depend upon their own company,
seperated from the many communities and groups by distance, time or belief. You
will probably spend more time solitary then in a group. Be prepared to face
this when it happens. The Pagan Community is too small to be everywhere for
everyone or to even always help its own (though trying to do so is a goal I
feel vital to expand the community). You must become sufficiently balanced and
grounded to deal with being alone and to practice your beliefs alone,
especially in times of hardship and adversity.
8) Don't be too fast to assume the role of a teacher, or to assume that a
student cannot teach you something in return.
Can you really explain what you believe and do within your belief coherantly?
Does the person to be taught really want to learn it all and are they sincere,
or are they mearly curious or on a 'power trip'? Learning to know when someone
is ready to learn is one of the hardest lessons you must learn if you purposely
teach. Don't give a hand gernade to a three year old and expect positive
results.
9) Not all paths and philosophies are desireable.
There are many that are self-destructive, purely self-indulgent or a
combination of both. If a path cannot teach you some form of inner peace with
yourself and what you are doing in life, or is devoted to manipulating others
to achieve your personal benefits, then it is a 'dead-end path', one that is a
cul-de-sac on the path of growth.
10) Don't do what feels uncomfortable.
If performing a ritual, using a magic form, reciting a chant/prayer or
performing an activity feels personally painful, uncomfortable or 'wrong' then
it is not for you to be involved with it at that time. Listen to the inner
voice of your spirit and follow its lead. Intuition is a powerful gift, don't
waste it by always opposing it.
11) You will have to take chances.
Magic doesn't work on its own, and positive karma won't help you if you fight
it when it seeks to restore balance around you. It is not enough to cast a
prosperity spell and then sit home and wait for a letter in the mail from Ed
MacMahn with a check in it! You must take non-magical action to help things
along. Cast a spell for a new job? Sure, but then don't turn down a chance to
read job listings, mail resumes or attend an interview! Working to heal a sick
spouse? ok, but make sure they are getting medical advice, enough to eat,
attention, care, therapy, etc. to help the magic on its way!
Site copyright�1999 by Dashiel
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